Chapter – 3

Public Nutrition and Health

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Home Science Chapter 3 (Public Nutrition and Health) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

Printed Books Are Available Now!

Chapter 3: Public Nutrition and Health

Introduction

• Public health is about what society does collectively to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy.  
• Public health nutrition focuses on preventing both undernutrition and overnutrition to maintain the population’s overall health.  

Significance of Public Nutrition

• Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under five.  
• India faces a double burden of malnutrition:
  • Undernutrition: low birth weight, growth retardation, micronutrient deficiencies.  
  • Overnutrition: overweight, obesity, and related diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.  
• This double burden poses challenges for public health.  

What is Public Health Nutrition?

• Public health nutrition promotes good health and prevents nutrition-related illnesses in the population.  
• It uses multidisciplinary approaches to solve nutritional problems in communities, especially among vulnerable groups.  
• Public health nutritionists identify, analyse, and plan strategies to address nutritional problems, considering various factors.  

Factors Related to Nutritional Problems

• Nutritional problems are linked to various factors, including poverty, lack of access to basic amenities, and government policies.  
• These factors interact in complex ways to influence the nutritional status of individuals and communities.  

Nutritional Problems in India

• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM):
  • Caused by inadequate intake of energy and protein.  
  • Affects children, the elderly, and individuals with certain diseases.  
  • Assessed by evaluating anthropometric measurements.  
• Micronutrient Deficiencies:
  • “Hidden hunger” refers to micronutrient deficiencies.  
  • Iron, vitamin A, iodine, and zinc deficiencies are major concerns.  
  • Lead to various health problems, including anemia, blindness, and impaired cognitive development.  

Strategies to Tackle Nutritional Problems

• Diet or Food-Based Strategies:
  • Use food to overcome nutritional deficiencies.  
  • Include dietary diversification, home gardening, nutrition education, and food fortification.  
  • Sustainable, cost-effective, and adaptable to different cultural traditions.  
• Nutrient-Based or Medicinal Approach:
  • Provide nutrient supplements to vulnerable groups.  
  • Short-term strategy used for specific nutrient deficiencies.  
  • Can be expensive and may have coverage limitations.  

Nutrition Programs in India

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under six and pregnant and lactating mothers.  
• Nutrient Deficiency Control Programs: Address deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, and iodine.  
• Food Supplementation Programs: Mid-Day Meal Programme provides free lunch to school children.  
• Food Security Programs: Public Distribution System, Antodaya Anna Yojana, Annapurna Scheme.  
• Self-employment and Wage Employment Schemes: Social safety net programs.  

Health Care in India

• Health care is provided at three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary.  
• Primary Health Centres (PHCs) provide the first level of contact with the health system.  
• District hospitals and community health Centres provide secondary level care.  
• Medical college hospitals, regional hospitals, and specialized hospitals provide tertiary level care.  

Role of a Public Nutritionist

• A public nutritionist promotes good health and prevents nutrition-related illnesses in the community.  
• They have expertise in nutritional science, assessment, education, and program management.  
• Career opportunities for public nutritionists exist in various settings, including hospitals, government programs, NGOs, and research institutions.  

Key Terms 

• Nutritional status: This refers to the state of your body regarding nutrients. It’s like a report card for how well you’re eating.  
• Undernutrition: This is when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients. It’s like your car running out of gas.  
• Malnutrition: This is a broader term that includes both undernutrition and overnutrition. It means your body is not getting the right balance of nutrients.  
• Public health: This is the science of protecting and improving the health of entire populations. It’s like a doctor for a whole city.  
• Public nutrition: This focuses on improving the health of populations through the prevention of nutrition-related illnesses. It’s like a dietician for a whole country.  
• Nutrition programmes: These are organized efforts to improve the nutritional status of populations. They can include things like food supplementation, nutrition education, and food fortification.  
• Community health: This focuses on the health of a specific group of people who share common characteristics, like a neighbourhood or a school. It’s like a doctor for a close-knit community. 

We hope that class 12 Home Science Chapter 3 Public Nutrition and Health notes in English helped you. If you have any query about class 12 Home Science Chapter 3 Public Nutrition and Health notes in English or about any other notes of class 12 Home Science in English, so you can comment below. We will reach you as soon as possible…